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Garrett Adelstein shares five practical live cash game tips for improving game selection, reading opponents, exploiting weaker players, and balancing theory with real-world adjustments.

00:00 Garrett Adelstein's 5 Live Cash Tips
01:19 Tip 1: Game Selection Is Everything
06:08 Tip 2: Pay Attention
12:15 Tip 3: Target the Biggest VIPs
26:03 Tip 4: Know the Theory
29:46 Tip 5: Exploit, Exploit, Exploit
32:24 Garrett's $600K Pot vs. Rick Salomon
46:25 Poker, Luck & Gratitude

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Which player at your final table has 35% of the chips but nowhere near 35% of the actual win equity? In this deep dive, you'll get the exact ICM-based strategy every WSOP Main Event finalist should be using at their stack size, so you can spot the mistakes the pros make before the money even changes hands.

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00:00 Introduction & Final Table Preview

0:53 ICM Fundamentals Explained

2:35 Short Stack Strategy & Re-Shoves

6:55 Mid Stack Pressure & Seat Draws

8:44 Tough Positional Spots

9:02 Mixed Steal Opportunities

10:31 Position vs Chip Leader

12:35 Button Advantage

13:21 Third-Chip Squeeze

15:44 Handcuffed Second Place

18:05 Chip Leader's Strategy

21:24 ICM Mechanics Recap & Closing

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Final tables change everything. In this episode, high-stakes crusher Tim Adams breaks down the subtle strategic adjustments that separate players who ladder up from players who actually close out tournaments. Learn how to think ahead under ICM pressure, exploit overly aggressive chip leaders, and stay mentally composed when the stakes are at their absolute highest.

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View the written version of this episode 👉 https://upswingpoker.com/podcast/3-final-table-tips/

00:00 Final Table Strategy Intro

00:52 Thinking Beyond One Hand

02:26 When to Pass Marginal Spots

03:10 Table Position & Stack Dynamics

05:18 Doug Polk's Pocket Eights Spot

06:20 Triton London Final Table Review

08:06 Why Position Changes Everything

09:38 Playing Short at Final Tables

11:30 Exploiting Aggressive Chip Leaders

12:53 How Big Stacks Overextend

13:43 Fighting Back With Rejams

15:53 Why Chip Leaders Fold Too Much

17:18 Staying Calm at Final Tables

18:56 Avoiding Final Table Pressure

20:14 Playing One Hand at a Time

20:44 Why You Shouldn't Chop Deals

22:30 Final Thoughts & Course Promo

Making a final table is one thing — actually closing out a poker tournament is something else entirely. In this strategy-packed episode, high-stakes tournament crusher Tim Adams joins the show to break down three advanced final table concepts that separate elite tournament players from the field. Drawing from years of experience in Super High Roller events and some of the toughest poker tournaments in the world, Tim explains how players should approach ICM pressure, chip stack dynamics, future game considerations, and the psychological side of playing under extreme pressure.

The conversation begins with one of the most overlooked concepts in tournament poker strategy: thinking beyond the current hand. Tim explains why poker solvers and ICM calculations can only take players so far, and why great final table players must constantly think about future table configurations, stack positioning, and who will be seated on their left and right after a hand concludes. Using examples involving marginal all-in decisions, bottom call-offs, and chip leader positioning, the discussion explores how future hands can drastically alter the true value of a decision in tournament poker.

The episode also includes a deep breakdown of a real hand from the Triton London final table featuring Doug Polk. Tim and the hosts analyze a difficult pocket eights decision against a 20 big blind shove and explain how future game value, player positioning, and table dynamics influence close ICM spots. This section is especially valuable for tournament poker players looking to improve their final table decision-making process beyond basic solver outputs.

From there, the discussion shifts into exploiting aggressive chip leaders at final tables. Tim explains how modern tournament players often overapply ICM pressure when holding the chip lead, creating opportunities for shorter stacks to fight back with aggressive rejams and exploitative adjustments. The episode dives into reshove strategy, blind pressure, stack leverage, equilibrium ranges, and why many chip leaders widen their opening ranges too far without properly adjusting their calling ranges.

Finally, the episode focuses on the mental game of poker and how to remain calm during high-pressure tournament moments. Tim discusses the importance of relaxation, emotional control, and embracing the final table experience instead of becoming overwhelmed by expectations. The result is an insightful poker strategy discussion filled with advanced tournament concepts, practical examples, and actionable advice for anyone serious about improving their final table performance in No Limit Hold'em tournaments.

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Mike Brady sat down with high-stakes tournament crusher Tim Adams (head coach of Modern Tournament Mastery) to put Chat GPT to the test. They break down a ton of spots and well... you'll see how poorly Chat GPT would play poker! Get Modern Tournament Mastery by Tim Adams, Daniel Dvoress, and guest coach Stephen Chidwick on May 25, 2026.

View the hand history and ChatGPT analysis 👉 https://drive.google.com/file/d/1teDl6IRwiBI0iSdHhhbLNq86JM3_vXEL/view?usp=sharing

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Talk with Upswing Coaches & members 👉 https://discord.gg/TX765Y3FPa

0:00 - Intro

1:16 Opening A7s UTG

12:05 Modern Tournament Mastery

16:08 Defending 87s in the BB

25:43 Opening AJo from MP

34:27 3 Betting 44 vs Table Talk

38:25 Suited Broadways in EP

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View the written version of this episode here: https://upswingpoker.com/podcast/ep19-pot-limit-omaha/

Most PLO players are making the same costly mistakes without even realizing it—and it's destroying their win rate. In this episode, you'll learn the core fundamentals of Pot Limit Omaha so you can build stronger hands, make better decisions, and start playing a winning strategy immediately.

00:00 Episode Intro + Why This PLO Episode Matters

01:37 What This Episode Will Teach You About PLO

02:20 Why Most PLO Hands Are Overvalued

02:58 The 4 Key Traits of Strong PLO Hands

05:41 What "Robust Equity" Means in PLO

07:41 Position and Preflop Strategy Fundamentals

08:04 UTG vs Button: How Ranges Change

11:32 Blockers, Equity, and Preflop Mistakes

14:01 Pocket Aces in PLO: Biggest Misconceptions

16:16 The Biggest Leak: Playing With Fear

19:18 Postflop Tip #1: Playing Based on Robust Equity

21:34 Postflop Tip #2: C-Bet Sizing by Board Texture

24:06 Postflop Tip #3: Checking Out of Position

26:16 Postflop Tip #4: Turn Strategy and Pot Sizing

28:50 Postflop Tip #5: Multiway Pot Strategy

Pot Limit Omaha (PLO) is one of the most complex poker variants, and in this episode, high-stakes pro Dylan Weisman breaks down a practical framework for actually winning. Unlike No-Limit Hold'em, PLO is an equity-driven game where hands run close together, making concepts like nuttiness, connectedness, suitedness, and high-pair power essential. Dylan explains how these four traits define strong PLO hands and why players must focus on building "robust equity"—hands that can improve across multiple streets and realistically make the nuts by the river.

The episode emphasizes how position and stack depth shape strategy. Early position requires tight, smooth, and highly connected hands, while later positions allow for wider, more flexible ranges. Dylan also highlights common mistakes, including overvaluing weak hands, misplaying pocket Aces, and ignoring blockers and opponent ranges. A key takeaway is that many hands that look strong preflop perform poorly postflop if they lack nuttiness or backup equity.

Postflop play is where most players struggle, and the biggest leak discussed is trying to "protect equity." In PLO, board textures change too frequently for that approach to work. Instead, players should apply aggression with hands that have strong redraws and play more passively with vulnerable holdings. The episode also covers c-bet sizing by board texture, why checking out of position is often optimal, and how to build effective check-raising ranges.

Finally, Dylan breaks down turn strategy, polarized betting, and multiway pots, where smaller bet sizes and discipline are critical. Overall, this episode provides a clear, structured roadmap for improving PLO fundamentals and avoiding costly mistakes.

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View the written version of this episode here.

In this episode, you'll learn the seven most powerful small bet situations that can instantly pressure your opponents and win more pots. By watching, you'll understand exactly when to use small bets for protection, range advantage, stack-to-pot leverage, block betting, and multi-way pressure so you can make more profitable decisions in both cash games and tournaments.

00:00 Mastering Small Bets to Punish Missed Ranges (Cash Game C-Bet Strategy)

00:48 Protection Betting: Thin Value with Medium Pairs in Tournaments

02:50 Range Advantage Boards: Small Bets When You Smash the Flop

04:30 Low Stack-to-Pot Ratio Strategy in 3-Bet and 4-Bet Pots

06:16 Out-of-Position Flop Strategy: Why Solvers Prefer Small Bets

07:18 River Block Betting: Setting Your Own Price with Medium Strength Hands

09:06 Multi-Way Pots: Shared Defense and Why Smaller Bets Work

In this episode of the Level-Up podcast, we break down the seven most profitable small bet situations in No Limit Hold'em and explain how to weaponize small sizing in both cash games and tournaments. From classic continuation bet spots to advanced stack-to-pot ratio adjustments, this guide shows you how to pressure opponents efficiently without bloating the pot unnecessarily.

The first key concept centers on betting small when your opponent's range is filled with missed hands. In single-raised pots—like when you raise preflop and the big blind calls—dry flops such as queen-seven-three heavily favor the preflop raiser. Because the defender's range contains many ace-high and low-equity hands, a small one-third pot c-bet frequently wins the pot immediately while risking very little. This is one of the most efficient plays in modern poker strategy.

Next, we explore protection betting with medium-strength hands. In tournament scenarios with 50 big blind stacks, holding a pocket pair on a coordinated board often calls for a small turn bet. This thin value plus protection approach forces opponents with overcards into difficult decisions, either folding equity or calling while behind.

When your range crushes the board—such as in three-bet pots on ace-king-jack textures—small bets at high frequency generate folds from capped ranges while maintaining balance. Similarly, in four-bet pots where the stack-to-pot ratio (SPR) is low, small bets are typically optimal because the pot is already bloated and ranges are narrow.

Out of position, solvers overwhelmingly prefer small sizing as the preflop raiser. By "naming your price," you avoid giving the in-position player the advantage of dictating the pot size. This principle extends to block betting on the river, where small bets with medium-strength hands prevent facing larger bets while still extracting thin value.

Finally, we examine multi-way pots. Because the burden of defense is shared, betting into multiple players already signals strength. Smaller bets often accomplish the same goal as larger ones while preserving stack depth.

Mastering these seven small bet scenarios will dramatically improve your postflop strategy, increase your win rate, and help you control pot geometry across a wide variety of poker situations.

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"Honestly in the 20 whatever years I've been on and off studying poker I don't know if I've ever seen a more impactful, concise, practical and actionable 20 minutes of content. Very very well done. Thank you." - Verified Lab 2.0 Member

Click here and watch 'How to Play Pocket Kings'.

Learn how to play Ace-King with clarity as Uri Peleg breaks down real hands and shows you exactly when this "premium" hand is powerful—and when it's just Ace-high. By the end, you'll know how to avoid costly mistakes, read tricky situations, and confidently extract maximum value from one of poker's most misunderstood hands.

00:00 Why Ace-King Is a Deceptive and Difficult Hand

01:59 Playing Ace-High on a Dry Board

03:29 When Ace-King Becomes "Just Ace-High"

03:56 Deep-Stacked 3-Bet Pot on a Connected Board

06:08 Strong Flop and Clean Runout With Ace-King

06:57 Blind vs Blind: Managing Missed Flops

08:46 Navigating Bad Boards With Ace-King

This video is a deep dive into one of poker's most misunderstood hands: Ace-King. Uri Peleg explains that while Ace-King is ranked among the strongest preflop holdings, it behaves very differently from true premiums like Aces or Kings. The hand's profitability is split: when you hit an Ace or a King, it becomes a powerhouse, but when you miss, it shifts into a marginal holding that often under-realizes its equity. The core message is learning to separate the emotional attachment players feel toward "big slick" from the actual strategic reality of the board, ranges, and runouts.

Uri walks through a series of real hand examples that illustrate how dramatically Ace-King's value can fluctuate. In the first scenario, he shows how Ace-King with no pair is essentially just Ace-high—nothing more. He encourages players to visualize the hand as something as humble as Ace-Deuce when facing river aggression, reminding viewers that the preflop strength is irrelevant once the board runs out and equities shift. When the hand misses, the correct approach is often checking back, calling once with overcards, or folding river bets that only beat bluffs.

The next hands highlight more nuanced spots, such as 3-bet pots where you flop draws or turn top pair in dangerous textures. Uri demonstrates how paired boards, four-to-a-straight runouts, and coordinated middling textures can crush Ace-King's value. In one hand he turns top pair top kicker but immediately explains why it's still a weak holding due to the connected nature of the board and the many wheel Aces that dominate him. He stresses discipline—letting go of the "premium hand" mindset and evaluating each street as if holding an ordinary bluff catcher.

The video also includes best-case scenarios where you not only flop top pair but continue running out safely. Uri shows how to extract value on clean textures and when to size aggressively with strong but vulnerable holdings. These examples are balanced with tougher ones where the player gets to showdown cheaply or picks up a lucky river improvement after checking twice and avoiding check-raises.

Uri reinforces a key concept: Ace-King is not a hand that wants to inflate pots blindly. Its strength is highly contextual, dependent on the board, the action, and the opponent's range. Sometimes it plays like a monster; other times it plays like a weak Ace-high.

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Watch 'STOP C-Betting Out of Position (It's Costing You Money)'

Mike Brady and poker pro Gary Blackwood reveal five key flop scenarios where you should always bet to maximize profits and simplify decision-making. From disconnected King-high boards to big-pair flops, they explain when aggressive range betting works best—and

View the written version of this episode here.

00:00 Situation 1

03:04 Situation 2

05:00 Situation 3

07:10 Situation 4

09:41 Situation 5

In this Level-Up episode, hosts Mike Brady and Gary Blackwood explain five key situations in which poker players should increase aggression and bet their entire range. Many players, they note, aren't aggressive enough post-flop — a costly leak that can be fixed with simple heuristics. Each situation is supported by solver insights and practical examples drawn from both live and online play, with the overarching goal of helping players simplify their strategy while maintaining strong expected value.

Situation 1 focuses on flops with no draws and one high card when you're in position — for example, King-Eight-Deuce or Queen-Seven-Deuce rainbow. These boards are dry and disconnected, giving the preflop raiser a strong equity advantage. Solvers show nearly universal continuation betting, since opponents in the big blind have mostly missed. However, if the flop adds flush or straight possibilities, players should reduce c-betting frequency because resistance from opponents will increase.

Situation 2 arises when you're raising from an earlier position such as the hijack, and your range is naturally tighter and stronger. On moderately connected flops like Jack-Six-Deuce, you can once again bet your entire range. The reason is straightforward: a tighter preflop range connects more often and contains fewer total misses, allowing for confident aggression.

Situation 3 covers flops that include a big pair like King-King-Five or Queen-Queen-Three. These boards are overwhelmingly favorable for the preflop aggressor, especially in three-bet pots, because the range advantage is massive. Gary and Mike emphasize that players should c-bet every time using small sizes to exploit opponents who are forced to fold much of their range.

Situation 4 applies to King-high flops in three-bet pots when you're in position. Through Lucid Poker simulations, Mike demonstrates that betting every time on such boards—no matter your actual hand—rarely produces mistakes. The simplicity of this approach makes it an easy and profitable rule of thumb.

Situation 5 flips the script: you've three-bet out of position and the flop is disconnected with one high card, like Ace-Eight-Deuce or Queen-Seven-Deuce. Here again, betting nearly your entire range with a small sizing works best because your range maintains a strong advantage.

The episode concludes with three caveats: dial back aggression when opponents overfold, over-attack, or when stacks are short and a shove is likely. While aggression is profitable, the key lesson is controlled aggression—bet big when range advantage is clear, but adapt intelligently when dynamics shift.